Night-latch



v (No Model s) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. BOHANNANL' NIGHT LATCH. I -N0. 377,983. Patented Feb; 14, 1888.

' proved construction.

UNITED STATES PATENT OrFIcE.

WILSON BOHANNAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

NlGHT-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,983, dated February 14-, 1888.

Application filed November 15, 1887. Serial No. 255,219. (No model.)

citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Night-Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in an improved construction of a night latch and its keeper, whereby the picking of the same is rendered impossible, unless the latch or its keeper is broken or cut out of its place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a night-latch of my im- Fig. 2 is an end view of a keeper of my improved construction for use with said night-latch. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the night-latch and horizontal section of its front portion and the keeper, the latter being shown interlocked with said night-latch. Fig. 4 is a section in the line a: m of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a. side elevation of a night-latch of a modified construction; Fig. 6 is a side elevation' of a keeper of -modified construction matching said night-latch. Fig. 7 is'a perspective view of said keeper. Fig. 8 is an edge view of said night-latch and a section in the line 3 y 3 of Figs. 5 and 6, the nightlatch and keeper being shown united and mounted in the edge portion of a door; and Fig. 9 is a transverse section in the line 2 z of Fig. 8.

The letter A in the drawings represents a night-latch, and B its keeper. The nightlatch A may be of ordinary construction, except that it is provided with a housing, a, over the end portion of the latch-bolt a, forming a front extension of the latch-case. This housing is closed at a and open at the opposite side, the latter opening serving to admit the keeper. A raised flange, a, is formed around the open portion of the housing a,which flange fits into a corresponding oblong groove, b, in

the base-plate b of the keeper B and around the staple portion 5 of the same. When the night-latch and keeper are interlocked, the latch-bolt a is protected partly by the housing a and its flange a? and partly by the base-plate b of the keeper, by reason of its being let into the groove b thereof. Theindirect, obstruct ing, or corrugated jointbetween the flange a,

and groove 12 being the only place at'which the attempt at picking could be made for the purpose of pushing back the latch'bolt, by

means of a thin blade or any other picking implement, the flange a and walls of the groove b,which have to be passed for that'purpose, would either so jam or breakor deflect such implement as to completely frustrate the'work of the operator.

In mortise-locks, as shown in Figs.v 5 to 9, the wall or (shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.) is omitted, for the reason that the material, d, of the door D protects the latch-bo1t in lieu of the metal wall (L The keeper B is of ordinary shape, except that it is provided with a staple, b,which is fastened to or formed on the sidewall, b, of the keeper. This side wall covers the front extension, a, and the joint between them is rendered proof against pick-,

corners formed by a ledge, a on the .front plate'of the lock, and a rabbet, b, on the side wall, 12 and basis of the staple b, as shown in 3' Fig. 8. This formation of the joint makes it impossible to insert an implement for the purpose of pushing the latch bolt back. The open and exposed parts of the extension a and keeper B are always turned toward the side where the latch knob is located and where picking is not liable.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a night-latch and its keeper, the combination of the latch-bolt a, housing a,-having flange a*, with thekeeper B, having staple b and groove b, substantially as and for the pur: pose described.

2. A housing formed on the front end of a night-latch and around the latch-bolt, and a' Witnesses:

E. L. GWATHMEY, ANDREW RUEGAM R. 

